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Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt - FINAL YEAR Production, 2004 First Generation, LNIB RARE INVESTMENT GRADE Guns International #: 103301098 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Ruger Revolvers - Vaquero - .45 Colt Revolvers Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: Andysfastdraw Member Since: 5/10/21 State: Texas Zip: 76177 Country: United States Phone: (516) 399-9259 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Types Accepted: GUNTAB About Us: Private Seller Description:                                       RARE INVESTMENT GRADE: 2004 First Generation Ruger Vaquero .45 Colt - FINAL YEAR Production, LNIB                                                                                                    Serial Number: 58-88398 THE LAST OF A DYING BREED - Final Year Before Discontinuation (2004) This isn't just a revolver. This is the last hurrah—a 2004 production First Generation Vaquero manufactured mere months before Ruger pulled the plug on this legendary platform and replaced it with the diminished "New Model Vaquero" in 2005. If you're reading this ad, you already know what was lost in that transition. WHAT MAKES THIS FIREARM EXTRAORDINARY: Museum-Quality Condition: LIKE NEW IN BOX (LNIB) - Essentially unfired condition Mirror-perfect bore showing virtually no use Minimal cylinder drag line (factory function testing only) Case color hardening with vibrant, lustrous patina Deep blue steel finish without handling wear 4 5/8" barrel - the Goldilocks length Flawless walnut grips - rich grain, zero damage Complete Original Package: Factory hard case (Model 00551) in pristine condition All original paperwork including instruction manual Factory-dated letter from Ruger (June 17, 2025) ATF Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice Business Reply Card Factory lock with keys Complete period documentation THE FINAL YEAR SIGNIFICANCE: 2004 represents the end of an era. By 2005, Ruger had made the controversial decision to discontinue the Original Vaquero in favor of a smaller-framed revolver purpose-built for lighter Cowboy Action loads. What the market gained in "authenticity," it lost in raw capability. The 2004 production year carries special weight among knowledgeable collectors: Last chance to own a factory-fresh example before the changeover Final iteration of the Blackhawk-framed .45 Colt Vaquero Bridge between eras—traditional aesthetics with modern strength Increasingly scarce as shooters wear out earlier examples THE ORIGINAL VAQUERO ADVANTAGE - The Secret Collectors Know: Here's what separates the informed from the uninformed: The Original First-Generation Vaquero was built on Ruger's legendary Blackhawk frame—a platform engineered to digest full-power magnum pressures that would punish lesser revolvers. This is a .45 Colt that plays by different rules: Forget the anemic "cowboy loads" the New Model Vaquero was designed around. The Original Vaquero thrives on what handloaders call "Ruger Only" loads—maximum-pressure .45 Colt ammunition that transforms this historic cartridge into a legitimate hunting round. Properly loaded with modern brass in this robust frame, you're approaching .44 Magnum ballistics from a platform half the world dismisses as a "cowboy gun." One Revolver, Infinite Applications: Cowboy Action Shooting (with mild loads) Precision target shooting Big game hunting (deer, hogs, black bear) Maximum-pressure handloading experiments Backcountry carry where reliability matters Collecting a piece of Ruger history The Original Vaquero occupies unique territory: it looks traditional, shoots traditionally, but harbors the metallurgical strength of a modern magnum. It's the last single-action that refuses to apologize. INVESTMENT PERSPECTIVE: Final-year production firearms occupy a special place in collecting. The 2004 Vaqueros represent the last opportunity to acquire these powerhouses in factory-fresh condition before Ruger transitioned to the lighter New Model. With each passing year, LNIB examples become increasingly scarce as shooters consume earlier production runs. This isn't a gun you'll find at local s or estate sales. This is a time capsule from the final chapter of Ruger's most capable single-action revolver. SPECIFICATIONS: Caliber: .45 Colt Barrel Length: 4 5/8" Finish: Case Color Hardened Frame Blued Barrel & Cylinder Grips: Walnut (flawless condition) Manufacturing Date: 2004 (Final Production Year) Condition: LNIB – Like-New-In-Box Model: 00551 Catalog Number: BNV-44 Serious collectors only. This is a premium final-year example priced to reflect its significance as the last of Ruger's full-strength Vaquero platform. Documentation and condition are impeccable. Price reflects rarity, final-year production status, pristine condition, and complete documentation. No trades. No lowball offers. 2004: The year Ruger closed the book on the Original Vaquero. Own the final chapter.   Price: $1,300.00 Handgun Caliber: .45 Colt Manufacturer: Ruger Model: Vaquero Serial Number: 58-88398 Barrel Length: 4 5/8 Condition: NEW Metal Condition: NEW Wood Condition: NEW Bore Condition: NEW Finish: Color Case Hardened Manufacture Date: June 2004